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Use international keyboards on iPhone

With international keyboards you can type text in many different languages, including Asian languages and languages written from right to left. For a list of supported keyboards, go to Apple’s iPhone website, choose your iPhone, click Tech Specs, then scroll to Languages.

Manage keyboards in Settings

  1. Go to Settings  > General > Keyboard.

  2. Tap Keyboards, then do any of the following:

    • Add a keyboard: Tap Add New Keyboard, then choose a keyboard from the list. Repeat to add more keyboards.

    • Remove a keyboard: Tap Edit, tap the Delete button next to the keyboard you want to remove, tap Delete, then tap Done.

    • Edit your keyboard list: Tap Edit, drag the Reorder button next to a keyboard to a new place in the list, then tap Done.

If you add an international keyboard, the corresponding language is automatically added to the Preferred Language Order list. You can view this list and add languages directly to it in Settings > General > Language & Region. You can also reorder the list to change how apps and websites display text.

If you’ve added keyboards in other languages, you can type in two languages without having to switch between keyboards. Your keyboard automatically switches between the two languages you type in most often. (Not available for all languages.)

Switch keyboards while typing

  1. While typing text, touch and hold the Switch Keyboard button on the keyboard.

  2. Tap the name of the keyboard you want to switch to.

You can also tap the Switch Keyboard button to switch from one keyboard to another. Continue tapping to access other enabled keyboards.

Enter accented letters or other characters while typing

While typing, touch and hold the letter, number, or symbol on the keyboard that’s related to the character you want.

For example, to enter é, touch and hold the e key, then slide to choose a variant.

Screen showing the alternate characters for the e key.

You can also do any of the following:

  • On a Thai keyboard: To choose native numbers, touch and hold the related Arabic number.

  • On a Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic keyboard: Tap a suggested character or candidate at the top of the keyboard to enter it, or swipe left to see more candidates.

    Note: To view the full candidate list, tap the up arrow on the right. To return to the short list, tap the down arrow.

Create a text replacement

When using certain Chinese or Japanese keyboards, you can create a text replacement for word and input pairs. The text replacement is added to your personal dictionary. When you type a text shortcut while using a supported keyboard, the paired word or input is substituted for the typed shortcut.

Shortcuts are available for the following:

  • Simplified Chinese: Pinyin

  • Traditional Chinese: Pinyin and Zhuyin

  • Japanese: Romaji and Kana

  1. Go to Settings  > General > Keyboard.

  2. Tap Text Replacement.

  3. Tap the Add button at the top right.

  4. Type a word or input in the Phrase field and the text shortcut you want to use for it in the Shortcut field.

Reset your personal dictionary

  1. Go to Settings  > General > Reset.

  2. Tap Reset Keyboard Dictionary.

    All custom words and shortcuts are deleted, and the keyboard dictionary returns to its default state.

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